{"id":273775,"date":"2023-11-08T14:07:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T19:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/?p=273775"},"modified":"2023-11-08T14:10:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T19:10:48","slug":"pga-remarks-to-the-un-crime-congress-side-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/78\/2023\/11\/08\/pga-remarks-to-the-un-crime-congress-side-event\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA remarks to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Crime Congress Side-Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

To the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Crime Congress Side-Event<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Video link:\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/v6PKzGKngy8<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵODC Executive Director, Ms. Ghada Waly,<\/i><\/p>\n

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/i><\/p>\n

I thank the Executive Director of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵODC, as well as the Governments of Japan and the United Arab Emirates, respectively, for co-organizing today\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

The calamitous suffering in the Middle East, Ukraine \u2013 and indeed all conflict settings across the world \u2013 rightly demands our utmost attention and bold action, if we are ever to achieve what might be regarded as the highest priority of the Charter, that is, lasting Peace.<\/p>\n

Against the backdrop of this solemn recognition, \u2013 and as preparations for the 15th<\/sup>\u00a0Crime Congress are underway, \u2013 I greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate virtually in today\u2019s important discussion.<\/p>\n

For more than half a century, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Crime Congress has served as the preeminent platform for fostering global cooperation to advance and further strengthen crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

The 15th<\/sup>\u00a0Congress affords us yet another opportunity to catalyze action across these pivotal dimensions \u2013 and\u00a0to\u00a0set the stage for major policy decisions in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice in the digital age.<\/p>\n

To that end,\u00a0the theme of the\u00a015th<\/sup>\u00a0Congress highlights the link between crime prevention, climate change, sustainable development and digital transformation.<\/p>\n

As a practical matter, it is extremely important to take a holistic approach to crime prevention, criminal justice and the promotion of the rule of law.\u00a0Access to justice and the rule of law enables societies to resolve conflicts, claim rights and to seek and secure remedies.<\/p>\n

These are embedded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development \u2013 that is, in SDG 16.<\/i><\/p>\n

Yet \u2013 as we slowly transit the halfway point to 2030 \u2013 it is disappointing to be reciting the commonly known mantra of\u00a0justice delayed is justice denied,<\/i>\u00a0for\u00a0far<\/b>\u00a0too many across our societies.<\/p>\n

Alarmingly, the latest SDG progress report finds that citizens \u2013 across\u00a0all<\/b>\u00a0regions \u2013 are\u00a0still<\/b>\u00a0denied equal justice, basic services and legal guarantees by ineffective institutions and discriminatory laws.<\/p>\n

Structural injustice, inequalities and human rights challenges are keeping the prospect of creating fair societies out of reach for billions of people around the world.<\/p>\n

We, the United Nations, cannot let this stand. We must take action to address it.<\/p>\n

To build a fairer, more just, more peaceful and inclusive societies, critical action is needed, to:<\/p>\n